State Department Might Start Revoking Passports For Unpaid Taxes

There is a proposal in the new highway-funding bill that congress is set to pass which would give the State Department the power to revoke the passports of Americans that owe the IRS more than $50,000 in back taxes. This provision would apply to Americans who have already had a levy or lien filed against them by the IRS and would probably not impact those that have already arranged a payment plan or are legally disputing a tax case. Under the proposal the State Department would still be able to issue a passport for a “humanitarian” emergency. “Critics of the measure claim there will be no judicial review and no due process if the passport revocation rule retains its current form.” The bill is currently before a conference committee and is expected to be passed in early December.

See State Department Could Soon Take Your Passport Away For Owing IRS Taxes, HNGN, November 21, 2015.